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Accessing Counselling at UoS

Sheffield’s University Counselling Service (UCS) is free, confidential and available to all students.

As well as offering one-to-one counselling, they also run workshops, mindfulness and stress reduction sessions. They can even offer practical advice regarding problems involving your friends or family.

Who can go to UCS?Anyone. Any of us can go and you can go for any reason. The fully qualified staff have experience with a range of scenarios, from recovering from sexual assault to depression to Asperger’s syndrome. You do not need a referral to go to UCS and UCS will help anyone, no matter how small you may think your problems are.

How do I go to UCS?Register online from any UoS computer or wifi spot, or visit in person at 36 Wilkinson Street. Online registration releases regularly so do check back if it is closed when you first access it. It is staggered like this to enable to staff to manage demand. If in doubt, pop in!

What does the Registration Form entail?
The online registration form gives UCS a chance to understand why you are using them before they meet you. It is a simple questionnaire which asks about your thoughts and feelings from the last two weeks.

What happens next?
You will be contacted by UCS to arrange a triage appointment. This is a 30 minute one-to-one session with a counsellor to get to know you and your needs, and help decide on the right course of action. You may request to see a male or female counsellor as you prefer.

If I have one-to-one counselling, what can I expect?
The counselling experience is different for everyone. Your counsellor will get to know you quickly, and you should feel comfortable opening up to them about anything. You are free to direct the topics discussed in your session. If at any point you wish to change or halt your counselling, you are free to do so. These sessions belong to you, they are your time to reflect, ask for guidance, or reassure yourself however you like.

Is there anything else I should know?
UCS is a wonderful service and incredibly positive environment. It is open, friendly, relaxed and kind. The waiting room is full of interesting self-help books and colouring if you need to chill out. There is no judgement in that building and every client is respected and celebrated as they deserve to be. At UCS, you are free to laugh, scream or cry to your heart’s content. I leave my sessions feeling hugely uplifted.
Added bonus: You can be excused from lectures, teaching or placement to attend these sessions, so do not worry about unauthorised absences.